Sheep industry faces processing squeeze
Namibia’s sheep industry is facing a temporary processing disruption after Farmers Meat Market (FMM) in Mariental, the country’s only export-approved sheep abattoir, suspended slaughter operations amid rising costs, high inventory levels and challenges in export markets.
CHAMWE KAIRA
Namibia’s sheep industry is facing a temporary processing disruption after Farmers Meat Market (FMM) in Mariental, the country’s only export-approved sheep abattoir, suspended slaughter operations amid rising costs, high inventory levels and challenges in export markets.
A research analysis by Simonis Storm Research said the disruption should be viewed as a processing and market access challenge rather than a collapse of the sheep sector.
The firm said information disclosed by FMM points to four key issues including disrupted slaughter schedules, higher local procurement prices combined with exchange rate pressures, stock holdings reaching about 90% capacity, and ongoing negotiations with European customers over prices.
